Big Fashion Companies Lag behind on Green Targets

Big Fashion Companies Lag behind on Green Targets

FILE PHOTO: People stand next to the window of a fashion boutique in a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, May 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

The 15 largest listed fashion companies are lagging behind when it comes to meeting the social and environmental targets of the Paris climate agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals, a new report by the Business of Fashion said on Monday.

The Business of Fashion, an online publication about the fashion industry, analysed in its report publicly disclosed information from the five biggest companies by revenue in three categories - luxury, sportswear, and high street fashion, including Kering, Adidas, H&M and others.

The fashion industry is under increasing pressure from consumers and governments to clean up its act. Statistics cited by the World Economic Forum show that the industry is responsible for at least 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Business of Fashion's report scored companies out of 100 in their progress towards meeting sixteen targets which would align their performance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on emissions, waste, workers' rights, water, and materials.

It also ranked the companies on transparency, or how much information about a company's practices was currently available, Reuters reported.

Kering ranked top